Christopher N. Lowe

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Aporrectodea caliginosa, a relevant earthworm species for a posteriori pesticide risk assessment: current knowledge and recommendations for culture and experimental design

Sylvain Bart, Joël Amossé, Christopher N. Lowe, Christian Mougin, more

Environmental Science and Pollution Research > 2018 > 25 > 34 > 33867- 33881

Ecotoxicological tests with earthworms are widely used and are mandatory for the risk assessment of pesticides prior to registration and commercial use. The current model species for standardized tests is Eisenia fetida or Eisenia andrei. However, these species are absent from agricultural soils and often less sensitive to pesticides than other earthworm species found in mineral soils. To move towards...

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Assessment of avoidance behaviour by earthworms (Lumbricus rubellus and Octolasion cyaneum) in linear pollution gradients

Christopher N. Lowe, Kevin R. Butt, Kevin Yves-Marie Cheynier

Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety > 2016 > 124 > C > 324-328

Avoidance behaviour by earthworms is recognised as a valuable endpoint in soil quality assessment and has resulted in the development of a standardised test (ISO 17512-1, 2008) providing epigeic earthworms with a choice between test and control soils. This study sought to develop and evaluate an avoidance test utilising soil-dwelling earthworms in linear pollution gradients with Visible Implant Elastomer...

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Earthworm invasion in North America: Food resource competition affects native millipede survival and invasive earthworm reproduction

Bruce A. Snyder, Mac A. Callaham, Christopher N. Lowe, Paul F. Hendrix

Soil Biology and Biochemistry > 2013 > 57 > Complete > 212-216

The invasive non-native earthworm Amynthas agrestis (Goto and Hatai, 1899) has recently been documented invading forests of the Appalachian Mountains in the southeastern United States. This epigeic earthworm decreases the depth of organic soil horizons, and this may play a role in the decrease of millipede richness and abundance associated with A. agrestis invasion. To investigate the mechanisms behind...

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Allolobophora chlorotica (Savigny, 1826): Evidence for classification as two separate species

Christopher N. Lowe, Kevin R. Butt

Pedobiologia - Journal of Soil Ecology > 2008 > 52 > 2 > 81-84

Breeding experiments have questioned the status of the green (g) and pink (p) colour morphs of Allolobophora chlorotica. Should they become regarded as separate species, the name Allolobophora virescens (Savigny, 1826) is available for the pink form of this earthworm.Breeding experiments were established to investigate the status of this species utilising previously unmated laboratory-reared adults...

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Life cycle traits of the parthenogenetic earthworm Octolasion cyaneum (Savigny, 1826)

Christopher N. Lowe, Kevin R. Butt

European Journal of Soil Biology > 2008 > 44 > 5-6 > 541-544

This laboratory-based study provides baseline life cycle data for the obligatory parthenogenetic earthworm Octolasion cyaneum. Singleton and twin hatchlings were cultured individually with biomass, survival and reproductive condition recorded at 4-weekly intervals during a complete year. After maturation, cocoon production, masses and incubation time were also recorded along with viability and number...

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Darwin's earthworms revisited

Kevin R. Butt, Christopher N. Lowe, Toby Beasley, Ian Hanson, more

European Journal of Soil Biology > 2008 > 44 > 3 > 255-259

Down House was Charles Darwin's home from 1842 until his death in 1882 and where he wrote “The Formation of Vegetable Mould through the Action of Worms”. The work described here is based upon passages from this book and from further observations on earthworms in this area. General observations were made in addition to systematic sampling in areas selected either from signs of earthworm activity, habitat...

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Effects of adult Lumbricus terrestris on cocoons and hatchlings in Evans’ boxes

Niki Grigoropoulou, Kevin R. Butt, Christopher N. Lowe

Pedobiologia - Journal of Soil Ecology > 2008 > 51 > 5-6 > 343-349

The basic ecology of well-researched earthworm species, such as Lumbricus terrestris, remains relatively unknown. In order to contribute to the limited body of knowledge, the present work aimed to investigate if specific behaviours could be detected between an adult and the cocoons it produced by comparison with a non-parental adult and cocoons. Modified Evans’ boxes (0.8×0.2×0.008m) with recently...

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Earthworm culture, maintenance and species selection in chronic ecotoxicological studies: A critical review

Christopher N. Lowe, Kevin R. Butt

European Journal of Soil Biology > 2007 > 43 > Supplement 1 > S281-S288

A critical review of earthworm use in chronic ecotoxicological studies is presented. In laboratory studies, species selection has often been based on commercial availability or on field-collected earthworms. The validity of results employing earthworms of either unknown origin or previous exposures must be questioned. Many studies have relied heavily on methodologies adopted from acute testing where...

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Presence of earthworm species within and beneath Lumbricus terrestris (L.) middens

Kevin R. Butt, Christopher N. Lowe

European Journal of Soil Biology > 2007 > 43 > Supplement 1 > S57-S60

Speculation exists as to the function(s) of the Lumbricus terrestris midden, but collection of organic matter, inorganic objects and maintenance through cast addition/incorporation suggests that it plays an essential role in the life cycle of this species. Middens act as a focus for soil micro-fauna and encourage microbial activity. This study examines use of L. terrestris middens by earthworms, other...

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Culture of commercially obtained Lumbricus terrestris L.: Implications for sub-lethal ecotoxicological testing

Christopher N. Lowe, Kevin R. Butt

Soil Biology and Biochemistry > 2007 > 39 > 7 > 1674-1679

The use of commercially purchased or field-collected earthworms of unknown age, exposure or pre-treatment in sub-lethal ecotoxicological studies is questionable. In this study, adult (clitellate) Lumbricus terrestris, obtained from 5 commercial suppliers in the UK and also field collected, were kept under controlled environmental conditions (15°C and 24h darkness) in a sterilised loam soil and fed...

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A viable technique for tagging earthworms using visible implant elastomer

Kevin R. Butt, Christopher N. Lowe

Applied Soil Ecology > 2007 > 35 > 2 > 454-457

Earthworms perform many ecosystem services. However, due to their body shape, mucus covering, and subterranean behaviour, it has been very difficult to successfully tag individual animals for experimental purposes. This paper examines the potential use of commercially available visible implant elastomer (VIE) tags to mark earthworms. Two laboratory experiments were conducted employing four temperate...

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Life-cycle traits of the dimorphic earthworm species Allolobophora chlorotica (Savigny, 1826) under controlled laboratory conditions

Christopher N. Lowe, Kevin R. Butt

Biology and Fertility of Soils > 2007 > 43 > 4 > 495-499

Allolobophora chlorotica exists as two colour morphs, pink and green. Field observations have indicated that the two morphs have ecological preferences linked to soil moisture: the green morph dominating in wet soils and the pink morph in dry soils. The aim of this laboratory-based research was to investigate the potential differences in fitness and adaptation to soil-moisture conditions of the two...

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Culture techniques for soil dwelling earthworms: A review

Christopher N. Lowe, Kevin R. Butt

Pedobiologia - Journal of Soil Ecology > 2005 > 49 > 5 > 401-413

Developments in ecotoxicology and soil restoration have led to an increase in earthworm research over the past 20 years. Rearing of earthworms under laboratory conditions has therefore become desirable, but perceived difficulties have beset this practice. A review of recent research on the development of earthworm culture techniques for temperate, soil dwelling (anecic and endogeic) species is presented...

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Anthropic influences on earthworm distribution, Isle of Rum National Nature Reserve, Scotland

Kevin R. Butt, Christopher N. Lowe

European Journal of Soil Biology > 2004 > 40 > 2 > 63-72

Earthworm surveys were conducted on the Isle of Rum (NNR), Inner Hebrides, Scotland. Fifteen species were located representing all three ecological groups of earthworm. Most species have a very limited distribution, around current or former centres of human habitation and are associated with anthropic activity. Bulk addition of mainland soil at Kinloch provided conditions that now support 12 species...

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The 7th international symposium on earthworm ecology · Cardiff · Wales · 2002

Christopher N. Lowe, Kevin R. Butt

Pedobiologia - Journal of Soil Ecology > 2003 > 47 > 5-6 > 574-577

The inverse relationship between the particle size of food resources and earthworm growth rate is widely recognised. The aim was to determine the effects of the particle size of food on interactions between combinations of adult and hatchling A. chlorotica and L. terrestris under laboratory conditions. Treatments were set up in 1 litre mesocosms, maintained in darkness at 15 ± 1 °C. Separated cattle...

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Influence of organic matter on earthworm production and behaviour: a laboratory-based approach with applications for soil restoration

Christopher N. Lowe, Kevin R. Butt

European Journal of Soil Biology > 2002 > 38 > 2 > 173-176

Restored soils are often low in organic matter (OM). As a result, OM is applied to increase soil fertility. Earthworms can assist soil incorporation of OM, but feeding behaviours, and as a result their roles in this process, differ between species. Laboratory experiments examined the effects of OM availability on the growth and behaviour of Aporrectodea longa and Lumbricus terrestris. Hatchling growth...

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Search results for: Christopher N. Lowe

Aporrectodea caliginosa, a relevant earthworm species for a posteriori pesticide risk assessment: current knowledge and recommendations for culture and experimental design

Assessment of avoidance behaviour by earthworms (Lumbricus rubellus and Octolasion cyaneum) in linear pollution gradients

Earthworm invasion in North America: Food resource competition affects native millipede survival and invasive earthworm reproduction

Allolobophora chlorotica (Savigny, 1826): Evidence for classification as two separate species

Life cycle traits of the parthenogenetic earthworm Octolasion cyaneum (Savigny, 1826)

Darwin's earthworms revisited

Effects of adult Lumbricus terrestris on cocoons and hatchlings in Evans’ boxes

Earthworm culture, maintenance and species selection in chronic ecotoxicological studies: A critical review

Presence of earthworm species within and beneath Lumbricus terrestris (L.) middens

Culture of commercially obtained Lumbricus terrestris L.: Implications for sub-lethal ecotoxicological testing

A viable technique for tagging earthworms using visible implant elastomer

Life-cycle traits of the dimorphic earthworm species Allolobophora chlorotica (Savigny, 1826) under controlled laboratory conditions

Culture techniques for soil dwelling earthworms: A review

Anthropic influences on earthworm distribution, Isle of Rum National Nature Reserve, Scotland

The 7th international symposium on earthworm ecology · Cardiff · Wales · 2002

Influence of organic matter on earthworm production and behaviour: a laboratory-based approach with applications for soil restoration

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